Healthy Communities

By Jo Perkins

(Madison County, NY- April 2013) Parents agree that healthy eating and sleep schedules are important to help keep their children healthy.  The same goes for childhood immunizations. Vaccinating children on time is the best way to protect them against 14 serious and potentially deadly diseases before their second birthday.

“The recommended immunization schedule is designed to protect babies, who are most at risk,” states Eric Faisst, Public Health Director for Madison County, “before they are exposed to diseases. Babies are most vulnerable to diseases because their immune systems are not yet fully developed. Delaying immunization puts babies at a greater risk of getting sick.”

Public health and medical experts base their vaccine recommendations on many factors. They study information about diseases and vaccines. Then, they very carefully decide what vaccines kids should get and when for the best protection.

When parents choose not to vaccinate or not to vaccinate on time, children are left unprotected against diseases like pertussis (whooping cough) or the flu.

• Last year in Madison County, there were 35 cases of pertussis — and many more cases go unreported.
• The rate of pertussis cases in Madison County is roughly twice as high as the New York State rate for 2012.
• In 2012, there were more than 2700 cases of pertussis in upstate New York State. 229 of these cases were in infants under one year of age.
• In 2011, three infants in New York State died from complications of pertussis.
• In 2012-13, there were 313 cases of flu in Madison County, 25 of those were in infants.
• In 2012–13,105 children in the U.S. died from the flu. About 90 percent of those who died were not vaccinated.

To make sure your children have the best protection against diseases, stay on time, every time.

“I make sure my kids get their shots on time,” said Cheryl Geiler, Director of Community Health at Madison County Health Department and mother of four. “Getting children all the vaccines they need by age two is one of the best things parents can do to help keep their children safe and healthy.”

The Madison County Health Department recommends these steps to stay healthy:

• Talk to your health care provider to be sure immunizations are up-to-date;
• Try to avoid close contact with others if you or your child is sick. Stay home, and follow good hygiene practices, including hand washing and covering your mouth when you cough;
• Keep infants under the age of one away from anyone who is sick or has a cough; and
• Cooperate with the local health department to help them track the disease and prevent its spread.

If you have questions about immunizations, talk with your child’s health care provider. For more information call the Madison County Health Department at 315-366-2848 or visit our website at: www.healthymadisoncouty.org.

Jo Perkins is a Public Health Educator with the Madison County Department of Health.